Insulated wall construction for hulls, deck houses, and the like



A. J. DAWSON INSULATED WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR HULLS, DECK HOUSES, AND THELIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l WW h MM Z A. J. DAWSONINSULATED WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR HULLS, DECK HOUSES, AND THE LIKE I Y NM1 I If Filed Feb. 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Alb erzl DawsonPatented Mar. 9, 1948 INSULATED WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR HULLS, DECKHOUSES, AND THE LIKE Albert J. Dawson, Sewickley, Pa., assignor to DravoCorporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationFebruary 3, 1945, Serial No. 576,060

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a metal wall construction and is for aninsulated metal wall for structures such as ship hulls, deck house of aboat, and the like.

While the invention is especially applicable to hulls and deck housesfor boats, and will be specifically described in that connection, it isto be understood that the term deck house is used in a broad sense toinclude similar structures. Metal housing of this kind is formed withvertical stiffeners or reinforcements to which is secured a metalsheathing. This sheathing is entirely weatherproof, but affords noinsulation against external temperatures, and the present inventionprovides a neat, economical and efficlent insulated wall structure.

According to my invention, the insulation is confined between the steelsheathing and plywood or like panels. The panels in turn are heldimmovably in place by strips or battens which are bolted to the webs ofthe upright metal studs or supports, the entire insulated structurebeing prol, overlying these margins,

vided without any other metallic fastenings be-- 7 tween the insulationand the metal wall.

The invention may be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional plan view through a portion of a ship having ahull or deck house wall embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal section through a portion of the wallwhere a doorway is formed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on a larger scale than Fig. 1 showingseveral panels of the wall;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on a larger scale than Fig.3, showing a part of the wall adjacent one of the supporting structuresas constructed throughout certain parts when framing flange is notinsulated; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view for'parts requiring insulation of framingflanges as generally is desirable for the living quarters of a boat.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 3, the deck house wall is comprised to ametal sheathing formed of light gauge metal plate, this metal sheathingbeing designated 2. At intervals along the wall are upright structuralmetal sections preferably of a T section, these having a web portion 3and a flange portion 4. The metal sheathing is welded to the verticaledge of these T sections as more plainly shown at 5 in Figs. 4 and 5.

According to the present invention, battens or layers of soft insulatingmaterial designated 6 are laid against the sheathing on the inner faceof the wall, the insulation being of appropriate:

thickness. It may be any suitable insulating material, preferably a.fireproof material such as mineral wool which may be prepared intobattens of uniform thickness. The insulation extends across the fullwidth of the space from one upright structural member to the next. Laidagainst the inner face of the insulation are panels l which arepreferably formed of insulating material or plywood, but which may beformed of any appropriate fiber or composition material, or which mayeven be metal. The panels I are of a width such that they may beinserted into the space between two structural sections. the edges ofthe panels 1 preferably being spaced a slight distance from the webs 3of the structural stiffeners.

Secured to the webs 3 of the metal sections by means of transverselyextending bolts or rivets B are timbers or battens 9 which fit under theflanges 4 of the structural sections and which bear against the verticalmargins of the panels The strips or timbers 9 are of a dimension such asto press the panels inwardly against the resistance of the insulationmaterial, thereby squeezing the insulation material between the sheathin2 and the panels I to firmly hold the insulation material in place. Atthe same time the outward pressure of the insulation pressing the panelsagainst the wooden strips or battens 9 firmly holds the panels 1 inplace.

Thus it will be seen that an insulated wall of neat appearance is veryeconomically provided without any need for any extra welding. Thestructural sections 3 may be pre-fabricated with holes at appropriatelocations to receive the through pins or bolts 8. The wooden strips orbattens 9 can be pre-cut to length before being taken aboard the ship,and the panels I may be fabricated or out before they are broughtaboard, to the necessary size. The only operations that need beperformed after the deck house is erected, to complete the insulation ofthe walls, is laying the insulation in place, and the application of thepanels 1, and the securing of the strips 9 to the structural sections.This can be done rapidly by unskilled labor, and does not even requirethe services of a carpenter.

In the ship's ofiices, or living quarters, it may be desirable toprovide more complete insulation, and at the same time conceal andprovide a padding over the flanges 4 of the metal sections. This may beeasily accomplished as shown in Fig. 5 by also laying a pre-formed stripof insulating material in on the outer face of the flange 3 4 of themetal sections over which is laid a strip of canvas or other fabric I I.The strip of canvas is made wide enough so that the sides of the stripmay be folded under the flanges 4 and brought in against the webs 3 ofthe sections. The wooden strips 9, as they are clamped into place,stretch this canvasror fabric tight, andclamp the edges of the fabric.to the two fiaces. of. theweb, 3. In Fig. 5 these edges of the strip ofcanvas are designated [2, This provides effective insue lation andpadding over the flanges of the sections with very nominal additional.expenseandlabor.

Fig. 1 illustrates a portion" of.- a ship structurein which there is atransverse; bulkhead. lfifand? longitudinally-extending bulkheads I4,with a doorway at 15 establishing communicationbee tween the area on oneside of the transverse bulkhead and the other. The portion of the deck:house forwardly of the bulkhead I3 may be living quarters, in which themetal sections are: completely insulated, as shown in-Fig. 5, whereasthe portions of the wall-rearwardly ofthe. bulkhead l3 may beconstructed without the insulation over the flanges, this part of the.wall being constructed as shown in Fig. 4. It. willbe seen. that whetherthe flanges are. insulated or not, the basic construction is the. same,and-the-fact that in some portionsof the wall the flangesof. the:sections are to be covered, whereas in-others theyare not, does notrequire any difierencein the general construction-or. assembly.

In Fig. 2 there is shown aconstruction. which; is used where there is adoorthrough the deck. house. In this instance the upright. structuralsection which is similar to all of the other.struc.- tural sections,andwhich in Fig. 2 is designated [6, is welded to the metal sheathing aslig l'1t.-distance back from the opening in the. sheathingwhere thedoorway is located, so. that there-is a2 projecting ledge of sheathingll in Fig. 2- beyond.- the section iii. The insulatedwallis constructed?aspreviously described up tothe sectionl-B, and. a wooden strip orbatten 9 is secured, in. place. on. one side of the web of thestructuralmemberl6.v Fitted under. the flange. of. thestmcturalmember l6and confined by the overhang ll of the sheathing is anotherv woodenstrip- 18.. This strip I8 is. especially. desirable where thestructuralmember- I6 is to be covered with insulationasfdescribedinconnection with Fig. 5. The actual door frameis indicatedin dottedlines and. ismar-ke'd. I9. It forms no part of the presentinvention, however- From, the foregoing. itv will be seen that thepresent invention provides aneat, economical, and easily installed-wallvconstruction, whichcan be rapidly installed and which. provideseffective and efficient insulation without undue increase of cost orlabor. Not only is the insulation desir able from the standpoint.ofoomfort, but also from the standpoint of deadening. noise. andv sound.The inventionmoreover provides, a layer of soft insulation and then, byreason; of. the. insulating qualities of. the plywood or other: panels,a layer of hard insulation, the first layer being against the steelconstitutin the. outer.- wall of. the deck. house, and the. secondformingthe inside finish of the deck house or other structure/the woodenstrips or timbers 9" also improving the appearance, as thesetimbers andthepanels may be appropriately finished.

While I have illustrated. certain specific, embodiments of my invention,it will be understood that this is by way of illustration, and thatvarious modifications and, changes may. be made 7 the sheathing betweenthe structural sections.

panels overlying the soft insulation for retaining itin place,- saidflanged portions overlying the edges ofsaid panels, and battens boltedto the structural sections-and overlying the edges of the panels: for"pressing the panels against the insulation andiholdingsthe panels inplace.

2. A, wall construction for use aboard ships an'dthe'like comprising anexterior metal sheathing; metallic perpendicular stifieners at intervalsalong the inner face of the sheathing and extending, outwardly therefromin a plane normal thereto, and. having integral flanged portions inspacedrelationship to said sheathing, soft insulation laid against theinner face of the'sheathing between. the. stiffeners, panels laidbetween the stiffeners over. the-soft insulation, and timbers secured.to.the. stiiieners extending. over the edges of. the. panels and.resting against said flanged portions. for pressing the panels against.the in.-

4 sulation andholding the panels in place,

3..A wall construction. for. use aboard ships andthelike comprisinganexterior metal sheathing, metallic structuralT sections atspace-clintervalsal'ong the. inside. face of the sheathing and securedto thesheathing and providing stifleners for the sheathing, softinsulation laid against the inner. face. of the sheathing between. the,stiffeners,.p anel's between. the. stiffeners laid against the. softinsulation, and stripsbolted to the web ofthe stifrenersbetweenthepanelsand the-flange of. the stiffeners, serving: to. pressthe panels against. the. insulation. and. hold; the panelsv andinsulation. in. place.

4; A wallconstruction for. useaboard ships and.

the like comprising an. exterior. metal, sheathing, T-shaped metallicstructural sections extending vertically against the inner face of thesheathing.

with. the flange ofthesections being. turned away from the. sheathing.said sections constituting stiireners for the sheathing, softinsulationlaid against. the interior face of the sheathing, panelsbetweenthe. structural sections overlying the soft insulation for,retaining. it in place, and timbers securedto. theweb. of the T sectionsbetween said stifieners for. the sheathing, soft insulation laidagainst-the interior-face, of the sheathing, panelsbetweenthe-structural. sections overlying the soft insulation.for'retaining it. in place, and timbers secured to the web of the Tsections between said flangesland panels of theT sections which projectover the edges of. thepanels and press the panels against the softinsulation and retain and hold them-in place, soft insulationbeing alsoprovided along the outsideof.- the flanges. of the sections.

anda fabric covering envelopingthesoft lnsu.-

5 lation and confined by the said timbers and the Number web of thesection for holding the soft insulation 1,614,411 over the flanges inplace. 1,888,039

ALBERT J. DAWSON.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fig gfile of this patent: 216184 UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 277,748 Number NameDate 768380 754,039 Ball Mar. 8, 1904 6 Name Date Thomson Jan. 11, 1927Hunt Nov. 15, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 21,1917 Great Britain May 19, 1924 Great Britain 1926 France 1934

